"Oh. Darling. You're so cute with your hair in a messy bun, and still in Pj's, with a t-shirt that says 'Ever Ever After." Sambit ni mama, habang kinukurot kurot ang pisngi ko.
"Ma, stop flattering her." I snapped back to the present. "She's not used it." Here goes Kuya Anthony with his mayabang side nanaman.
"Good morning Sam." Dad just walked in. "Nagluto ka pala. It's too early for lunch, don't you think?" He asked.
"It's breakfast, dad." Sambit ko naman.
"It's already 11:00 a.m., darling." Dad said, and I almost slap my self. Napatingin rin kasi ako sa orasan, at oo nga. Dad's right. This is embarrasing. 'Nyete, late nanaman pala akong nagising.
"Hey, I turned off the music. It's too loud. By the way. Nandun sila sa sala." Bigla namang sumulpot si Kuya John.
"Teka, sinong sila?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. Tinignan lang nila ko at sabay sabay silang napa buntong hininga.
"You'll know." Bigla akong hinawakan ni Kuya sa braso at hinila palabas ng kusina, papunta sa sala.
"Ano bang meron?" Kuya didn't answer. Nakasunod lang nga sila papa.
May limang tao akong nakitang nakaupo sa mahabang sofa namin. Lumapit pa kami. "Again, guys, here's Sam." Nag announced pa si Kuya. Sabay sabay silang humarap.
At para bang may nagbuhos ng malamig na tubig saakin.
"You, you—" Napatalikod ako at nagsimula na sanang maglakad palayo, pero itong sila kuya, pinagtutulak pa ako sa harap nila. "No, please, please." I beg them.
"You must do what must be done." They said.
Ano ba itong pinagiisip nila, at nilalagay ako sa sitwasyon na ganito. Malas naman oh.
"Darling, I believe you've caused them a lot of damage. I think it's time to apologize." Sabi pa ni Mama.
Napatingin ako sa kanila. From left to right, si Boss the first na Ma'am ko, at katabi niya si Sir. Kasunod nila ang isang babae, na mukhang hindi naman galit, tas katabi niya si kapangalan kong Sam, na nakakatakot kagabi, he's staring straight to my eyes. I shiver. Then, the debutant, last night, whom I had a fight with. Wow, what a coincidence.
"Goodmorning." I awkwardly greet them. Ba't ba halos lahat sila ang sama ng tingin saakin.
"Ms. Laurel. We meet again." Tumayo si Sir, na naging boss ko kagabi, he offered me an handshake. Tinanggap ko naman.
"Sir."
"This is my family. And I think it's best, if we just all meet officially. Last night was—"
"Yes, last night, I'm so sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to. I was just not on the mood, I'm not myself. I hope I didn't do that. Please forgive me." My hands are clasp together, and my eyes are shut. Pero parang bang nakarinig lang ako ng cricket sound.
Dahan dahan kong dinilat ang mga mata ko. They're all staring blankly at me.
"Sir, Ma'am?"
But then, I wasn't expecting for them to laugh like a pig. Halos lahat na sila tumatawa. Even my mom and dad, and sila kuya. Well, except dito sa tatlo, yung isa nakangiti lang, at yung dalawa blank pa rin.
"Sam, dear. We're not here para parusahan ka or something. Nandito kami for an arrangement and last night was great, sana nandun ka't tinapos mo." Sir explained.
"Arrangement?" I repeated the word. I don't quite understand.
"Yes, darling." Pinaupo na rin ako nila mama, lahat na kami nakaupo.
"I'm Mr. Mathew , this is my wife." Nagpakilala pa sila Sir. "Sila ang anak namin, and I believe you already meet them. Si Mara, Cynthia, and Sam." I nodded at them.
Pero ang taray lang ng tingin nitong Cynthia. Nagagalit pa rin ata dahil sa nangyare kagabi, and this Sam, is just giving me a blank expression.
"Hello, Sam. I knew it, ikaw yung babaeng inaaway kagabi ni Sam." Napatingin naman siya kay Samuel, at tinignan ito ng masama. "But, it's nice to meet you little sister." Niyakap niya ako. Nabigla pa ako, but I hug back.
"Thanks, ate Mara." Siya nga, siya yung girlfriend ni Kuya Anthony. Dati ko na siyang nakikita, pero wala naman kasi akong pake sakanya nun eh. I don't care about my Kuya. Pinagmamalaki siya saakin ni Kuya, and now I know why. She's worth loving for. She's just so sweet and pretty.
"Sam, why don't you apologize." She's referring to her brother. "Samuel Alexis Dy Mathew Jr. " May pagka strikto rin itong si Ate. Tsaka ansabe? What a name. Hinila niya ito patayo, at hinarap saakin.
Lumapit naman si Kuya Anthony at hinila palayo saamin si Ate Mara.
"Narinig namin na, hinahabol mo daw si Sam, Sam." I don't know if that's a joke, but they laughed at what Dad said.
This is awkward.
Sinubukan kong tumingin sakanya, but he's already staring at me. He's three inch taller though.
"Okay, bakit di muna po natin sila bigyan ng privacy, and we'll just talk about the arrangement, later." Ate Mara concluded, and they all agreed. I tried to stop them, but Kuya Anthony is just a oh—so loving brother.
"Just do it." He whispers.
"If I were you, I'll stay away from her—" Bumanat pa si Cynthia, buti na lang pinigilan agad siya ni Ate Mara. "Take your time." She said.
And they're all heading upstairs now.
Kailan pa kaya naging close ang family namin sakanila.
"Hey Sam...uel?"
